Thu, 9 Oct 2008, 09:46 PM They're Running Out of Races

By Bob Frey Photo copyright 2008 Auto Imagery, Inc., Bob Johnson Photography & Eagle Eye

Photography A few weeks ago I wrote a column talking about the potential Lucas Oil Champions, or at least the drivers who I thought had a real shot at winning the championships. A few weeks and a lot of races have transpired since then and some of the championship races are coming into focus, and a few, just a few, may be out of reach. Having said that, there are still a couple of national races and a few divisional events where the leaders and the challengers can gain points, but if you want to be the champion, you better hurry because time is running out.

Bill Reichert

When I wrote the first story two months ago Bill Reichert was in third place in the points in Top Alcohol Dragster. Sure, he had a good car and was within striking distance of the leader, Jim Whiteley, but he hadn't yet shown the dominance that he had in his past two championship seasons. Well, he has now. Over the past month Bill has been unbeaten, untied and unscored upon. He went out and took care of business in the Division 3 area by winning at Bowling Green and he followed that up with a solid performance in Indy where he won for the second time. Bill was the number two qualifier at Indy, but on race day, he had the best car in the park. He then went to the new track in Concord, North Carolina and went wire-to-wire for the win. At that race, if you had any questions about his performance, he was the top qualifier, set low elapsed time and top speed. After that win and still needing to add some points, Bill went to Atlanta last week and won the Division 2 race there. So, as it stands right now, Bill is the leader and it looks like Jim Whiteley is the only guy who can possibly catch him. Both have one divisional race remaining and, if Bill goes to the final at his last race, it's all over and he'll be the champ again. Jim needs to win his last race and hope that Bill doesn't make it to the final round, so he certainly has a chance, but he'll have to take care of business on his end and hope that Bill stumbles a little bit. Based on what we've seen lately from the champ, that's not likely to happen, but, as we all know, it's not over until, well, you know.

Steve Harker

The Top Alcohol Funny Car class has been over for a while so the question is, who will finish second to Frank Manzo? Steve Harker is in second place right now but the always tough Jay Payne is in third. Steve has had a remarkable year, a year that might be good enough to win the championship if Frank Manzo hadn't been perfect. Steve already has over 700 points and he still has a few races at which to add to that total, but he must go to the final round to add those points. Jay, always a threat to win, is a few points behind Steve and is having a year that other drivers only dream about. Still, with only one race left to claim, Jay will need a win to move into a tie with Steve and then hope that Harker doesn't pick up any more points. Does anyone really remember who finishes second? I do and I'm sure it means a lot to the drivers, too. I know it does to Steve who is looking for his best finish ever while Jay is looking to finish in the second spot for the fifth time in his great career. I don't care what class you're in, when you've been as good as Jay has over the years and when you're racing in the same class as Frank Manzo, finishing second isn't bad. At least I don't think it is although I may get an argument about that from Jay. And Shelly.

Dan Fletcher

When I talked about Competition Eliminator earlier there were a couple of teams who had a shot at grabbing the brass ring. Right now there are two in serious contention and at least one other with a long shot, and I mean a long shot at winning it all. The serious guys are Dan Fletcher and Craig Bourgeois. Dan is the leader in the clubhouse and, I would have to say, a prohibitive favorite right now. I'm not trying to give anyone the Bob Frey "kiss of death" but let's face it, Dan does have the upper hand. Right now he has 687 points to Craig's 609. Both drivers are out of national events and Dan only has one divisional race remaining while Craig has three. To get to those three races Craig would have to go to Georgia, Oklahoma and Las Vegas, but I'm sure he wouldn't mind making the trip if it meant he had a chance at winning the championship. And once he gets to those races, at least the way I figure it, Craig would have to go to the finals at two of those races and he would have to win one. And even if he does that it would only get him a tie with Dan who could then add to his total at his last race which, I assume, would probably be in Las Vegas. Like I said, Craig has a chance but he needs everything to fall into place. Oh yeah, I mentioned the real long shot and that would be Scott Benham. All Scott has to do is win three races by the end of the year and he could overtake both Craig and Dan and win the championship. Now that's a real task and it would make the comeback this year by the Tampa Bay Rays look like a stroll in the park.

Ricky Decker

Ricky Decker and Jimmy DeFrank have taken turns at the top of the pack in Super Stock over the past few weeks and right now it's Ricky in the lead with his 676 points. It's easy to figure out what his maximum points total is....676. Ricky is out of races and all he can do now is block or win some races and add to his bank account. Jimmy, already a two-time champion, has 664 points and he has two national and one divisional race still to claim. That's the good news, the bad news is that he has to go to the final round at at least one of those races to add to his total. He will be replacing a fourth round race but even a fifth round finish would only give him another eleven points which, if my math is correct, would leave him one short of Mr. Decker. I have learned one thing after watching Jimmy for these many years (my many years, not his) and that is that the kid can go rounds so a final round appearance is not out of the question. I always wonder, in cases like this, if Ricky will travel and try to compete with or block Jimmy. Stay tuned.

Lee Zane

Another former Lucas Oil World Champion is the leader and the favorite in Stock Eliminator right now. Lee Zane, who won the 2004 championship, is sitting on 664 points and that's all he's going to get. Toby Lang, who is in fourth place right now, has 602 points and he has a second round loss to replace and he can only do that at a divisional race. Again, if my math is correct, or even close, Toby will need a final round at that race to add enough points to catch and pass Lee. Toby has had a very good year and, regardless of what happens, he'll end the season with another top ten finish, the fifth of his career. By the way, one of the seasons that he made the top ten was 2004 when he was looking up at Lee Zane at the end of the year.

Gary Stinnett

The "Super" categories also have some intriguing possibilities with at least four guys having a real shot at the 8.90 title while an equal amount could win the 9.90 crown. In Super Comp, two-time world champion Gary Stinnett leads the way with 633 points and one divisional race to claim. To add to his total Gary just needs to go to the third round and everything after that is gravy. The reigning champ, Shawn Langdon, is in second place with 623 points and he also has one divisional race at which to increase his count. He'll have to go at least four rounds just to tie Gary (assuming Gary doesn't add more points) and that's a real challenge in the 8.90 group. Terry Edwards, who was in this same position last year, is third with 621 points and he can still go to one more national and one more divisional race and that could be huge. And then there is the always tough Steve Cohen, the 1987 world champ, in fourth with 611 points and a second round loss to replace. Like I said, four drivers with a real shot at standing on stage in California next month.

Mike Ferderer

The Super Gas category is just as close with Mike Ferderer, Brian Forrester and Brina Splingaire all within ten points of each other and all with races to claim. Mike, the 1985 Super Gas champ, has claimed five national and seven divisional races while the other two can only add points at one more race and those are both on the division level. And lurking back there in the shadows is Tommy Phillips who has 558 points and two national races and two divisionals left to claim. I know that Tommy is more than sixty points back but if anyone can make up that ground over the last few races it's Tommy.

There, I hope that clears it up. I know I'm not picking winners, I never do (or at least I don't since I was so wrong years ago) so use this for amusement only. And good luck to all those whom I mentioned as well as the others I didn't, including at least one who will probably win a championship.